Convertible article of furniture



Aug. 17, 1937. w. MAYO ETfAL CNVERTIBLE ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed April18, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 17, 1937. w. MAYO ET AL CONVERTIBLEARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed April 18, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug.17, 1937.w. MAYO ET AL I 2,090,400

' CONVERTIBLE ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Patented ug. 17, 1937 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE Warwick Mayo and Elbridge E. Nook, Jr., Norfolk, Va.,assignors to Norfolkv Mattress Company,

Inc., Norfolk, Va.

Application April 18, 1936, Serial No. 75,158

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a convertible article of furniture and has forits object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an articleof the class referred to capable of being converted 5 from a couch intoa twin bed.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, an article of furniture of a day bed class havingthe elements thereof so formed and arranged relative l to each other toenable the structure to be selectively used as a couch or twin bed whendesired.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a foldable and extendible structure having asparts thereof 15 a shiftable cushioned element constituting a couch, asWell as a bed bottom for one of a pair of beds of the twin bed type anda foldable supported element capable of being disposed in flatwisehorizontal position and in Vertical position on one of its lengthwiseedges and functioning when disposed horizontally as the bed bottom ofthe other bed of a pair of beds of the twin bed type and when disposedvertically on one of its lengthwise edges functioning as the back of the25 couch.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a foldable and eXtendible article of furniturefor the purpose referred to which is simple in its construction andarrangement, strong, durable, compact, pleasing in appearance when innon-extended position, conveniently extended and folded when occasion sorequires and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture with respect toarticles of the 35 class to which this invention belongs.

With the foregoing and other objects which may hereinafter appear, theinvention consists of the novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts as will be more specifically de- 40 scribed and areas illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown thepreferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood thatchanges, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fallwithin the scope of 45 the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is aview looking towards one end of the structure illustratingthe frames of the latter nested, one of the bed bottom elements in,couch- 50 back forming position and further illustrating in dotted linesthe other bed bottom element and the pad or mattress employed inconnection with the first mentioned bed bottom element,

Figure 2 is an end View of the supporting 55 frames of the structure inextended relation when the structure is converted into a pair of twinbeds,

Figure 3 is a horizontal segmental viewof the structure when convertedinto a pair of twin beds and with the pad or mattress employed inconnection with one of the beds shown in dotted lines,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view looking towards the inner face of oneside of the supporting frame for the combined couch back and bed bottomi forming element.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5 5 Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detailed View in side elevation,

Figure '7 is a section on line 1 1 Figure 3 with the spring controlledstationary frame stop in extended position,

Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure '7 with a spring controlled stop incontracted position,

Figure 9 is a section on line 9--9 Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a fragmentary View in side elevation illustrating thespring controlled stop in nonextended position,

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating thespring controlled stop in engagernent with the shiftable frame,

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of the stationaryframe and of that bed bottom forming element carried by such frame andwith such element in horizontal position,

Figure 13 is a section on line |3-I3 Figure 12,

Figure 14 is a section on line Ill-i4 Figure 12,

Figure 15 is a top plan view of the shiftable frame detached from thestationary frame, and

Figure 16 is a top planY view of the stationary frame detached from theshiftable frame and further illustrating the bed bottom forming elementcarried thereby disposed at right angle thereto in a Vertical positionstanding on one of its lengthwise edges.

With reference to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1, 2, 3and 15, the article of furniture, in accordance with this inventionincludes av rectangular slidable frame 20 formed with a pair of invertedU-shaped, vertically disposed side members 2I, 22 including a top ofangle shape cross section and a pair of sides of angle shape crosssection. The side members 2|, 22 are oppositely disposed and each hasits top formed of a vertical leg 23 and a horizontal leg 24 whichextends inwardly at right angles to the upper end of the leg 23. Thefront and rear of each of the side members is ofangle shape crosssection to form a pair of legs disposed at right angles to each other.The front and rear of each y'55 Vso side member constitute front andrear corner posts 25, 26. Castors 21 are carried by and positionedinwardly with respect to the said corner posts. The frame 28 furtherincludes a front member 28 and a rear member 29 which are of angle shapein transverse section. The member 28 is oppositely disposed with respectto the member 29. The horizontal leg or flange of the member 28 isseated upon the front ends of the members 2|, 22 and fixedly securedtherewith as at 30. The vertical leg of the member 28 depends from thehorizontal leg of said member and is arranged at the front of themembers 2| 22. The horizontal leg of the member 29 is seated upon therear ends of the members 2 22 and is xedly secured therewith as at 3|.The vertical leg of the member 29 extends upwardly from the horizontalleg and aligns with the rear faces of the corner posts 26. Corner braces32 are anchored to the front, rear and end members of the frame 20.. Thelatter is formed with transversely disposed parallel braces 33 which aresecured to the lower faces of the horizontal legs of the members 28, 29.Secured to the front and sides of the frame 20 and extending above anddepending below; the frame is a concealing member 34, preferably in theform of a wooden strip. Secured to the vertical leg of the rear member29 of the Yframe as well as extending above .said leg is a wooden strip35. Each front corner post 25 is connected to a rear corner post 26 byan angle bar 36 which inclines downwardly from the rear corner post toYthe front corner post. The angle bars 36 are arranged within the sidemembers 2|, 22.

.Connected to the horizontal legs of the side members 2|, 22 aresupporting wires 31 extend'- ing lengthwise of the frame 28. Connectedto the horizontal legs of the front and rear members' 28, 29respectively are transverse wires 38 which interlace with the wires 31.The wires 31, 38 provide supports for upstanding springs 39 which areenclosed by a casing 40. Mounted on the casing 48 .and suitablyconnected with the frame 20 is a pador cushion 4|. Secured upon thehorizontal legs of the angle bars 36 are upstanding angle piecesy 42arranged in proximity to the corner post 26.

'I'he frame 28 in connection with the springs 39, casing 40'and cushion4|, as well as the other elements referred to with respect to the frame20 provides a shiftable or portable combined couch and bed bottomformingstructure.

'I'he convertible article of furniture includes a rectangular stationaryframe 43 which is normally housed in the combined couch and bed bottomforming structure consisting of a front member 44, a rear member 45`anda pair of side members 46, 41. Each of said frame members isof angleshape in transverse cross section to provide a vertical leg 48 and ahorizontal leg 49. The legs 49 extend inwardly from the upper end of thelegs 48. The horizontal legs of the members 46, 41 are mounted uponutheends of the horizontal legs of the members 44, 45. 'I'he horizontal legsof the members 46, 41 are secured to the horizontal legs of the members44, 45 by the holdfast means 50. Corner braces 5| connect the front andrear members 44, 45 to the side members 46, 41. The side members 46, 41extend rearwardly from the frame member 45 as at 52 (Figure 12) and havethe rear ends of their vertical legs reduced in width as at 53. Anchoredto the vertical legs ofthe Ymembers 46, 41 rearwardly of the framemember 45 are rear supporting legs 54,

which are also connected to the vertical legs of the side members 46, 41by inclined brace pieces 55. Secured upon the horizontal legs of theside members 46, 41 are strips 56 having upstanding arms 51 at the rearends of the outer sides thereof. The strips 56 are ilush with the rearends of the members 46, 41. Abutting the inner faces of the legs of thefront member 44 (Figure 3) are front supporting legs 58. The supportinglegs 58 are connected to the vertical legs of the front member 44 bybraces 59 (Figure 14).

` "The vertical legs 48 of the members 46, 41 between their verticalmedians and their forward ends are formed with slots 68 (Figures '1 and9) extending lengthwisethereof. Secured to the inner face of Saidlegs-`48 is an angle piece 6| having one of its anges formed with anopening 62. Slidably positioned against the inner face' of the said legs48 is a stop 63 formed of an intermediate stretch 64, a forward stretch65 and a rear-end stretch 66. VStretches 65, 66 extend in oppositedirections with respect to each other and at right angles to the stretch64. The end stretch 65 is of greater length than the end stretch 66. The

latter is formed with an V opening 61. The stretches 64 slide againstthe inner. faces of the said legs 48 and oppose slots 60. Each stretch64 is slidably connected to one vof said legs 48 by the spacedconnectors 6B. Each connector includes a stem and a pair of heads. Onehead of aconnector is arrangedat the outer face of one of the said legs48 and the other head of the connector is arranged against the rear faceof one of the stretches 64. The stems of the connectors` extend throughthe slots 60. The vertical leg 49 of the frame member 44 is slotted ateach end. With reference to Figure 7 the slot is shown" at one of theends of the vertical legs of theframe member 44 and indicated at 69. Theintermediate stretch 64 of a stop extends through the slot the rearcorner posts 26 and coact with these latter for limiting the. extendingof the frames20, 43 with respect toeach other. Each of the stops 63 isformed with a cushioning spring 10 which has one end anchored toYstretch 66 and the other end anchored to the angle piece 6|. One end ofthe spring 10 extends through the opening 61 and the other end extendsthrough the opening 62. The corner posts 26 are of angle-shape intransverse cross section and the stretches 65 of thestops 63 coact withthe inwardly extending flanges 12 (Figures 7 and 8) of the corner posts26 The convertible article of furniture also includes a combined couchback and bed bottom forming element 13 which is pivotally connected to-frame 43 and is capable of being supported in a horizontal position onsaid frame, (as shown in Figuresk 2 and 3), to constitute a bed bottomof a bed of a pair of twin beds as well as capable of being disposedupwardly at right angles relative to frames 20, 43 (as shown inFigure 1) to constitute the back of the couch.

The element 13 consists of a rectangular frame respectively.

Secured against the inner faces of the front 16 and-rear 11 of frame 14are wooden strips'83, 84 Secured with the frame 14 is a cushioning orresilient web 85. The frame 14 is completely enclosed by a fabric casing86 which issecured to the strips 83, 84. Extending through -the bottomof the casing 86 (Figure 12) and pivotally connected, as at 81 to thelegs 8l! of the sides 18, 19 of the frame 14 are the arms 51 which arearranged in close proximity to the strip 84. The top of the front Mi ofthe frame 43 is provided with spaced cushions 81a (Figure 16)` uponwhich the front 16 of `frame 14 seats when frame 14 is disposed inhorizontal relation with respect to frame 43.

.Extended outwardly from the vertical legs of the angle pieces 42(Figures 3, 5 and 16) are headed pivots 81 for the forward ends of thearms 88 of V-shaped links 89. These latter include rear arms 98 ofgreater length than the arms 88. The arms 88 in close proximity to theirrear ends are formed with transverse notches 9| which open at the loweredges thereof. The arms 90 are coupled to the sides of the frame 14 bythe headed studs 82 engaging in the notches 9 I.

It will be assumed that the structure is in the position as shown inFigure 1 and it is desired to convert it into a twin bed. The top ofelement 13 is swung forwardly and downwardly which causes frame 2li tobe shifted forwardly from over frame i3 whereby the latter will extendrearwardly from frame 28 and the element 13 will assume the positionshown in Figure 2. When restoring the structure from the position shownin Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 1, the front of element 13 is swungrearwardly and upwardly carrying the links 89 therewith whereby theframe 20 will be caused to shift rearwardly to enclose the frame 43.

Separation of frame 43 from frame 2Q is prevented when frame 20 isshifted from over frame 43 by the coaction of the resilient stops 63with the legs 12 of the corner posts 26.

With reference to Figures 1 and 3 a pad o1 mattress is shown in dottedlines and indicated at 92. When the article of furniture is used as acouch, as shown in Figure 1, the pad or mattress 92 is positioned uponthe top of the pad 4l. When the article of furniture is used as a twinbed, the pad or mattress 92 is mounted on the element 13.

The links 8S are arranged outwardly with respect to the rear cornerposts 26 and the lower portions thereof are concealed by the element 34when the element 13 is in couch back forming position. A suitableclearance is provided for the arms 88 of the links 89.

What we claim is:

1. A convertible article of furniture including a bodily shiftable couchstructure forming one of the beds of a pair of twin beds and providedwith a bottom frame having front and rear corner posts carrying castors,a supporting frame normally housed in the frame of the couch structureand including front and rear' corner posts for supporting it, saidstructure being shiftable from over said supporting frame to provide forthe latter being in rearwardly extending relation thereto, an elementcapable of being disposed horizontally upon said supporting frame toprovide a bed bottom for the other bed of a pair of twin beds andcapable of being extended upwardly substantially at right anglesrelative to said frames to provide a back for said couch structure, saidelement being pivotally connected to said supporting frame, linkspivotally connected to the sides of the frame of said 'structure and tothe sides of said element, and yieldable limit stops resilientlyconnected to the sides of and extended forwardly and laterally from thefront corner posts of the supporting frame and capable of abutting therear of the other frame for arresting the forward shift ofsaid structurerelative to said supporting frame. v

2. In a convertible article of furniture, a bodily shiftablecouchstructure forming one of the beds of a pair of twin beds andincluding a bottom frame formed with front and rear corner postsprovided with front and rear supporting means, said frame provided nearthe rear end of each vside thereof and below its top with an anglepiece,

ture being shiftable from over said supporting frame to provide for thelatter being in rearwardly extended relation thereto, upwardly extendingarms connected with the rear ends of the sides of said supporting frameand disposed rearwardly of said supporting legs, an element capable ofbeing disposed horizontally upon said support to constitute the bedbottom of the other bed of a pair of twin beds and capable of beingdisposed upwardly at right angles with respect to said frames to providea back for the couch structure, said arms extending into said elementmeans for pivotally connecting the rear ends of the sides of saidelement to the said arms, V-shaped links pivotally connected at one endto the said angleshaped pieces and at the other end to the sides of saidelement, the pivots between said links and said element being so placedas to be positioned forwardly of said arms when said element is disposedhorizontally on said supporting frame, and slidable stops resilientlyconnected to the sides of and extending forwardly through and laterallyfrom the front legs of the supporting frame and capable of abutting therear corner posts for arresting the forward shift of said structurerelative to said supporting frame.

3. In a convertible article of furniture, a bodily slidable couchstructure including a supporting frame having depending sides carryingcastors, a stationary frame adapted to be normally housed in saidsupporting frame and extended in rearward relation with respect to saidcouch structure when the latter is shifted forwardly relative to saidstationary frame, a combined couch back and bed bottom forming elementpivotally connected in proximity to its rear with the rear end of thesides of said stationary frame, the sides of the frame of said couchstructure being provided with braces, slidable angle-shaped stopspositioned against the inner face of and resiliently connected to thesides of the stationary frame, said stops projected forwardly throughand extended laterally in opposite directions relative to the front ofthe static-nary frame and capable of engaging with the sides of theframe of said structure for arresting the forward movement of the latterrelative to the stationary frame, and links pivotally connected at theirforward ends with the said braces and at their rear ends to the sides ofsaid element, the pivots for the rear ends of said links being so placedas to be positioned forwardly of the point of connection between theelement and said stationary frame when said element is disposedhorizontally on the stationary frame.

4. In a convertible article of furniture, a bodily 5 front and rearsupporting legs adapted to be normally housed interiorly lof the couchstructure frame; said structure being shiftable from a position oversaid supportingframe to provide for the latter being in rearwardlyextended relo lation thereto; an element capable of being disposedhorizontally upon said support to constitute the bed bottom of the otherbed of said pair of twin beds and also capable of being disposedupwardly substantially at right angles with respect 15 to said frames toprovide a back for the couch structure; means for pivotally connectingsaid element to the said supporting vframe; links pivotally connected tosaid couch frame and'said element, the pivots connecting said links andsaid element being so placed as to be positioned forwardly of thepivotal connection to the supporting frame when said element is disposedhorizontally on said supporting frame; and slldable-resilient stopsconnected to one of said frames and capable of engaging the other ofsaid frames adjacent the corner posts thereof as the element approachessaid horizontal position for arresting the relative forward shift ofsaid structure with respect to said supporting frame.

WARWICK MAYO. ELBRIDGE E. NOCK, JR.

